The application period for Operation Purple Camp is open! This is a free one-week camp designed especially for military youth ages 7-17. This year’s camp will be at Camp K on Kenai Lake from June 18-22. Learn more and apply by April 5th at www.militaryfamily.org.

Our Spring Break Camp aims to guide youth through the worlds of their favorite movies, and to that end we thought it appropriate to share a special project. Sourced from the efforts of our talented Before and After School Programs, here’s Episode 1 of Spy Wars.

Alaska Celebrates Absolutely Incredible Kid Day on March 23rd! The national holiday will be held a week earlier, on March 15th.

Are you curious to learn about how YOUR family can participate in this Absolutely Incredible event? Check out our page on how to write that perfect letter to ignite the spark of confidence in your child, or get a more comprehensive overview of what Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is all about!

To wrap up, here’s a fun video from our national headquarters talking about what a difference YOU can make during AIKD!

It’s not enough to want it; you also gotta know how. Here’s what we teach our Camp Fire kids and teens about pursuing strategies designed to get them where they want to go. Read about it on our national website here.

Join us for full day programs (7 AM – 6 PM*) for theme days, science, art, cooking, games, and so much more! Registration is open to ALL families. Registration 2 business days prior to attendance is required.** Space is limited. Click here for schedule. Read more about registration and payment details for our Winter Break program here.

Determine Your Winter Break Site Below

Programs hosted December 22, 27-29th, and January 3rd-5th

*6:30 in Eagle River
** Please remember that December 25-26th and January 1 are holidays. To ensure your child’s registration, please register two business days in advance.

One of our Site Directors gives the exclusive scoop on why she let Camp Fire kids handle her Extreme Makeover. Behind this silly treat are thoughtful lessons on teaching and rewarding children for exercising compassion, tenacity, and self-reflection. Watch the full interview here.

Thursday morning we had over 500 supporters—plus the Denali Camp Fire Choir—attend our annual breakfast fundraiser. It’s easy to join them by showing your support. Every dollar counts, every gift is important. With your help, we can continue to offer affordable programs that are accessible to everyone. Give to Camp Fire today. Click here to donate.

It’s cold season! In addition to sneaking leafy greens on your child’s plate, there are a few other things you can do to help them stay healthy. Click here (http://bit.ly/2izxZCs) to review 7 tips on how to keep kids healthy, and consider taking advantage of the free flu shots provided around town, and even within the school district!

Mistakes and failure are never fun, and they can be especially painful for a child. It’s important to remember that every mistake is an opportunity to learn, but shaping children’s perception of failure can be an unusually challenging quandary. As some social scientists have pointed out, “It is possible that adults’ attempts to comfort children may hinder the learning process by influencing the extent to which children attend to and make sense of their mistakes.”

In other words, instead of immediately trying to help a child feel better about their mistake, it is instead more beneficial to congratulate them on taking that risk in the first place. Encourage them to pay more attention to their past mistakes, rather than excusing them for making it. To read more, click here.